March 20, 2010 - It's final!

We have officially adopted Tari. Gail and Bob from the Greyhounds Pets of America, Delaware came over to go over the paper work and to toast Tari’s new life with a glass of wine and cheese. The process is not lengthy. Just going over one paper and signing it. Plus a packet of info, some treats, and a surprise toy for Tari, which she took immediately and started playing. Fred and I each received a really nice light weight sweatshirt with the “Greyhounds Pets of America - Delaware” on them. Fred’s jersey is a little different than mine. Here he is wearing his jersey for the first official family portrait with our girl Tari. This is not, however, the end of this journal. I will continue to post messages on this blog as Tari is still growing and getting settled into her retirement life.

Meanwhile I am trying to convince Fred to foster a grey in May. But we really cannot do this until we have Tari doing the steps both up and down. I mentioned this to Gail and she had a great suggestion…she owns two Greys that do steps quite well and could bring them over and let Tari follow then up and down the stairs and thereby training her.
This sounds like a plan and I think it might work. I’ll be sure to take pictures of the three of them. We are aiming for the end of next week or early the following week. Stay tuned.

Progress report - the stairs

We are still working on the stairs. Tari is starting to come up the stairs but in such a clumsy way. She is tripping over her feet as she tries to rush moving from the bottom of the stairs to the top. We have done this three more times and is seems to be getting easier each time but not by much. We need to find a way to make this easier for her. Does any one have any suggestions?

This weekend was beautiful, temperatures in the 70s and sunny, sunny, sunny! I worked in the yard and once my chores moved to the back fenced in part of the yard, I brought Tari out and she loved it. She ran around the yard maybe twice and like a true Grey, that was enough. She found a nice cool spot and lay down, being sure I was near by. After a few minutes she started to wander around the yard and started exploring. When I was ready to come in, a simple calling of her name brought her right to me and in we came through the basement and that means we had to do the stairs… again.

Giving us her paw - March 14, 2010

Finally she has caught on to giving us her paw. Check out the video. While we are using treats as a motivator. She will also do this with out a treat.

We are still working on the stairs. She is coming up a little faster, but rushes up them and has not gone down the steps in the house yet.

Also, we are offically going to adopt her. Will have to get all of the paper work in order this week.

Cars and steps

We are still trying to get the hang of getting into the car and climbing stairs. The car is a real challange. Here I am helping her one step at a time. I am trying to take her places that she will enjoy, so that she associates a ride with good things, and with hopes that she will want to go for a ride in the future. Yesterday it was to Concod Pets. I thought she might enjoy that seeing other dogs and people and being around dog things and food. In the store she just stayed by my side. Didn't look left or right. I can't complain, she didn't jump on anyone and she didn't try to take any food. I'll bet it won't always be this way. So it was as I suspected, when she is in a new place she is very quiet. This is a good thing. But I do wish she would show some enthusisam.

The steps are proving to be even more of a challenge. Trying to bribe her with food is not doing the trick. But interestingly, when I walk her up and down the steps in the gardens outside, and they are steep, she handles them just fine ... up and down. And we did this several times. But once we come in the house. She seems to think she can not do them. So we need to continue to work on this.

One paw at a time

Sunday a week ago I tried to teach Tari how to do the stairs. The best way to start this is to go up the stairs not down. Greys have a tendency to jump all of the steps and could get hurt. This effort was literally one paw at a time. What a chore. I was sweating bullets by the time I got her to the top step. The poor baby was shaking like a leaf. It should get a little better each time we do this excerise.

Most things are progressing nicely. Tari seems to be coming to us to let us know she needs to go out. Fred tested her to see how long she would go before she wanted to go out. 6 1/2 hours before she came to him. A couple of days later we left her in her crate for 8 1/2 hours. TOO LONG! Poor thing had an accident while we were away. We’ll keep watching and testing.

The worming pill seems to have done the trick in firming up her stools. Another pill this Thursday and that should be that.

This past Sunday was her first time riding in a car since she arrived here in January. It’s a sports car that has back seats that fold down for a large space that will allow her to lay down confortably. Another effort of having to place one paw in the car at a time and a little goose at the end. Then a short ride to a park, she stumbled a little when she tried to get out. At least this was easier than gettng her in. We went for a nice walk and met a really large 134 pound Golden Lab, Riley and his owners Bob and Lisa. The dogs got along just fine. Getting back into the car was again a chore but a little better than the first time. I have a feeling she is going to get better at this faster than she is taking to the stairs.

Second and third time taking the steps. We have a walk-out basement, so I took her in that way. The stairs to the main floor are carpeted... so again, one paw at a time, with lots of coaxing and help, she finally made it. The next night, we tried the same thing, but this time, we figured that we need to motivate her and food seems to be the best motivator for her, so Fred got her food ready. Just stirring her food perked her up. She practically leaped to the half-way landing, then froze, and once again one paw at a time finally made it to the top. We are getting there. I have a feeling that this will take at least three more trys before she is comfortable.

Every day it’s still something new...and all are positive!

Promised Photo of Tari's friends - Belle and Button

Here is Belle and her live in kitty, Button. Tari met Button on her very first day with us. Button walked right up to Tari as bold as can be and Tari was ok with it. Button is certianly her own cat. She really lets any new animal in the area know that she is not a kitty to mess with. Looks like she and Tari will get along just fine, as long as Tari doesn't bother her. Belle and Button get on well too... you ought to see how Button teases Belle and I don't think Belle cares, she thinks it a game. That is a puppy for you.